Aeroplane control



B. F. KENYON.

AEROPLANE CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED 050.5.1917.

1,332,344. Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

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B. F. KENYON.

AEROPLANE comm.

' APPLICATION FILED DEC.5,1917. 1,332,344, Patented Mar. 2, 1920-.

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AEROPLANE CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 5.. I917.-

Patented Mar. 2, 1,920.

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AEROPLANE CONTROL.

APPLICATION F lL EDDEC.5. 1911.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 3/ 3 llllllllllllllll/ll;i:WIIIIIII yen for Berfranc/E/nn 0/1 rnvrrn stress are r rrrcn BERTRAND F. KENYON, 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO GRAND RAPIDS TRUST CGMPANY, OF EAST GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, AS TRUSTEE FOR HERMAN CLARK ANDERSON, EDWARD J. CLARK, ANID'MARY ELLEN KENYON.

AEROPLANE CONTROL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

Application filed. December 5, 1917. Serial No. 205,491.

To (Ml whom it may concern Be it known that I, BERTRAND F. Kenyon, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Grand Rapids, in the countyof Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplane Control; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to aeroplanes or the like and is concerned with improvements in the control of machines of this character. One primary feature of the invention resides in the provision of a dual control for aeroplanes whereby an instructor and pupil may each have access to a controlling mechanism for the machine but in which the in- StPHC'tOl', at will, may render the mechanism operated by the pupil inoperative so that any operation of the same will have no effect upon the aeroplane. My invention contemplatcsmechanism for accomplishing this object. This is a very important feature of the invention inasmuch as the pupil many times becomes frightened and incapable of controlling a machine and, in a great many instances, grasps the control mechanism and holds it so that the more skilled instructor is helpless to control the machine. With my invention the instructor is permitted by a. very simple operation to free himself and the control mechanism which he operates from the actions of the pupil, thus avoiding accidents. This invention is of particular utility in teaching others how to control heaventhan-air aeroplanes.

The invention consists of many novel arrangements of parts and association of elements for attaining the ends defined and various others not specifically noted in a relatively simple and practical manner, as fully setforth in detail in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a partial sectional and side elevation of an aircraft body equipped with my invention. 7

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, illustrating the control mechanism for instructor and pupil. v

Fig. Sis an enlarged side elevation of a front cock pit for use by the pupil.

lever 10 lies above a casting 12 while the detail of mechanism used in detachably connecting the pivotally mounted controls for the horizontal rudders or lifting planes of the machine.

Fig. a is a vertical section substantially on the line 4. l of Fig. 8.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 66 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is a partial sectional and side view of the pivotally mounted horizontal rudder or lifting plane control, the section being taken on a vertical plane through the upper part and centrally thereof.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7. i

Fig. 9 is a plan of the foot-operated member associated with the vertical rudder for operating the same to change the direction of movement of the aeroplane either to the right of left. 7

Fig. 10 is a rear elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a vertical section substantially on the line 1111 of Fig. 9.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different views of the drawings.

In the disclosure of my invention the same is shown applied to a hydroplane body 1, though it is understood that the invention is applicable to all types of aeroplanes, which isbuilt with front and rear cock pits 2 and 3' containing seats 4: and 5 for the pupil and instructor. The pupil occupies the front seat and the instructor the rear one. At the rear end of the body a vertical rudder 6 is pivotally connected, the body also being equipped with the usual horizontal rudders or lifting planes 7, one at each side of the vertical rudder. Cables 8 are operatively connected at 9 with the rudder 6 leading forward therefrom to a foot member 10 in the rear cock pit which is pivotally mounted between its ends, said cables being connected one at each end thereof. The instructor places his foot upon this lever, one at each side of the pivot. Similarly a a footlever 11 is pivotally mounted in the The lever. 11 lies above a similar casting 13, said castingsbeing secured to the body 1 many suitable manner. Below said casting in the rear cock pit there is a second lever 14, while in the front cock pit below the lever 11 there is a similar lever 15, the ends of levers 14 and 15 being connected by suitable cables 16 as shown in Fig. 2. In practice the levers 11 and 15 are secured at the upper and lower ends, respectively, of a vertical shaft rotatably mounted in the casting 13.

The lever 14 is fixed at the lower end of a pin or shaft 17 which passes upwardly through the member 12 and through a sleeve 18 to which the upper lever 10 is secured. The sleeve 18 extends about halfway through the member 12 being rotatably mounted in a bearing 19 cast integral with said member 12 and carrying a disk 20 at its lower end below the bearing 19 in which a pair of openings 21 are made. Below the disk 20 there is located a sleeve 22, which is pinned or otherwise suitably connected to the shaft 17 it having a head 23 provided with openings similar to the openings 21 into which pins 24 pass, the same projecting F upwardly from a disk-like head 25 formed at the upper end of a short sleeve 26 which loosely surrounds the sleeve 22. A coiled spring27 is located below head 25 being coiled around an upwardly projecting annular member 28 cast integral with a base 28 above which the casting 12 is placed. The tendency of this spring is to force the head 25 and attached pins 24 in an upward .direction so as to enter the openings 21, in

which case it will be obvious that levers 10 and 14 are connected to move together. A lever 29 is pivotall mounted at 30 in the rear side of the member 12, projecting outwardly therefrom, and is provided with a cam 31 adapted to bear against the upper side of the disk 25, so that on pivotal movement of the lever 29 to the rear, pins 23 are disassociated from the disk 20 upon which levers 10 and 14 may move independently of each other. A cable 32 is attached to the end of lever 29 so that the lever may be operated by pulling on the cable as later described. When the lever 29 is thus operated to disconnect levers 10 and 14, it is clear that lever 10 only, has any eflect uponthe rudder 6, and that though the pupil ma move his foot lever 11 to any extent desire the only effect thereof is to move the con- .nected levers 15 and 14 without afiecting g the rudder 6.

In the front cock pit a U-shaped frame is located being formed of rear and front ll-shapcd tubular members having vertical legs 33 and 34, connected at their upper ends by integral horizontal members 33 and 34*.

legs 33 and 34 are fixed at their lower ends to disks 37 which are rotatably mounted in annular guide brackets 38 surrounding the disks and having permanent connection tov points below and above the disks 37 and having connection to members 42 and 43 fixed to said vertical legs of the U-shaped frames at equal distances below and above the axes of turning movement of the disks 37, whereby a movement of the rear U- shaped frame about its pivotal axis effects a change of position of the lifting planes 7.

To each of the vertical. legs of the U- shaped frame in thefront cock pit members 43 are secured similar in many respects to the members 43 previously noted. A rod 44 is pivotally connected to each of the members 43 extendin to the rear and having detachable connectlon with the member 43 on the same side of the rear U-shaped frame. The construction for thus detachably connecting the rods 44 to the members 43, will now b described.

Each rod 44 passes through a sleeve 45 cast integral with a sleeve 46 which-proj sets at right angles from the sleeve 45 and passes through the member 43. A cap 47 threaded onto the end of the sleeve 46 and a space filling collar 48 are used in makin the attachment. A pin 49 provided with a ead 50 is loosely mounted within the sleeve 46, said head50 having a tongue 50 adapted to seat in an annular groove 51 made in the rod 44 with which it is associated. A coiled spring 52 surrounds the pin 49 and is disposed between head 50 and the cap 47, its normal tendency being to force the tongue 50 into the groove. .A lever 53 is pivotally mounted at one end above sleeve 46 at 54, and has spaced apart depending yoke arms 55 which engage with a collar 56 fixed on the end of pin 49, the same extending through the cap 47. A cable 57 is connected t the lever 53 at its free end extending in an upward direction so that on an upward pull given to this cable, arms 55 serve to draw the tongue 5O from the groove 51 freeing the U-shaped controlling frames from each other, the front frame thereupon being completely disconnected from the planes 7 and incapable of thereafter controlling themovement of said planes, until such time as the rods 44 are again connected to the member 43. It will be noted in this connection that the "cable 32 heretofore described is connected to thelever 53, it leading from the' lever 29 around "the guide pulley 58 mounted on a rearward extension 12 to the member 12, and thence around proper guide pulleys 59 so that it may come to the lever 53. Any pull on the cables 57, accordingly, disengages the controlling mechanisms in the front cock pit from both the vertical and horizontal planes 6 and 7.

Substantially at the middle point of the horizontal portion 36 of the rear U-shaped frame a bracket 60 is secured, depending therefrom and being formed with a bearing 61 at its lowerend. Likewise the tubular section carries a bracket 62 having a de pending portion formed with a bearing 63. A sleeve 6% is rotatably mounted in the bearing 63 and is provided with a helically grooved pulley 65 directly in front of the tubular member 35*. A similar pulley. 66 is located immediately in front of the pulley 65 being keyed to a shaft 67, the front end of which is received in the bearing 61, said shaft extending to the rear loosely through sleeve 6% and for a distance back thereof, its rear end being equipped with a hand wheel 68. A sleeve 69 surrounds the shaft 67 between'the wheel and the sleeve '64 being keyed or otherwise suitably connected to the shaft. Sleeve 69 at its front end is formed withan enlarged disk-like head 70 which abuts against a similar head 71 formed at the rear end of the sleeve 64 both having a pair of openings 72 therein in which pins 73 are adapted to insert. These pins are carried at the rear end of a collar 74 which is loosely mounted about sleeve 69, a coil spring 75"under compression being interposed between hand wheel 68 and collar 7% the tendencyof which-is to force pins 73 into the openings 72 in head 71 to thereby lock shaft 67 and sleeve 64: together causing the pulleys and 66 to move together.

Collar T l at its rear end is provided with a flange 76 in front of which a horizontal shaft 77 is rotatably mounted. Bracket 62 has a rearward extension 62 through which shaft 77 passes to provide a central bearing for said shaft While any suitable bearings may he provided for the ends of the shaft as shown. A cam 78 is fixed on shaft 7 7, and on rotation of the shaft by operating a handle 79, the same is adapted to engage against the front side of the flange 76 forcing collar 74 to the rear against the force of spring 7 5 and withdrawing the pins 73 from connection with head 71. the rear pulley 65in such case being disconnected so that on operation of the hand wheel 68 pulley 66 only is turned.

The front U-shaped frame carries a shaft 80 similar to the shaft 67, to the rear end of which ahand wheel 68 is secured, while adjacent its front end a single helically said rear disks.

ing planes.

grooved pulley 81 is secured, the pulley lying between the horizontal members 33 and 2H as shown in Fig. 2. A cable 82 is a wound around the pulley 81 extending in opposite directions therefrom to the endsof members 33 and 3.4., being thence guided over idle pulleys 83 in a downward direction to and around pulleys Sat, mounted on the inner sides of the disks 3?, going therefrom to similar pulleysSl on the rear disks 37 and thence upwardly over guide pulleys 85 carried by the rear U-shaped frame, thence around pulley 65. A cable 86 is wound around the pulley 66 leading therefrom in opposite directions around the pulleys 85 downward to the rear disks 37, being thence turned to extend laterally around idle pulleys 87 which are mounted on the rear disks 37, said cables 86 passing outwardly through guide sleeves 88 the axes of which are identical with the aXes of rotation of Cables 86 lead outwardly to the ends of the main planes of the aeroplane and are used to effect change of location of the warping planes, at the ends of the main planes as will be readily understood by all skilled in the art. It is apparent that when the instructor turns shaft 77 so as to free the pulley 66 from the shaft 67, he alone may have control over the warp- In this connection it may .be noted that the cables 57 heretofore described as attached to the levers 53, lead upwardly to the ends of the shaft 77 and connect to levers 89 fixed on the ends of said shaft whereby, with one operation, that is, the turning of shaft 77 the instructor may disconnect the control mechanism operated by the pupil so that he cannot, until it is again connected, have any eflect upon the operation of the aeroplane. also it will be noted that when the control mechanism for the pupil is again connected with that of the instructor, all of the similar controlling mechanisms of both the pupil and the instructor are in identically the same relation to the aeroplane. By a single quickly effected operation, the instructor may at oncedisconnect the pupil and as easily put him again in control. The advantages of this are obvious and have been fully stated hereoperated devices, means operatively connecting the rear device with the vertical rudder of the aeroplane, front and rear pivotally mounted frames, means connecting the rear frame with the lifting planes of the aeroplane to change position thereof, a hand wheel mounted on each frame, means for connecting the hand wheel on the rear frame with the warping planes of the aeroplane to control the movements thereof, detachable connections between said foot operated devices, detachable connections between the frames, means detachably connecting the hand wheels, and a single means mounted on one of the frames for rendering all of said connections between the foot operated devices, frames and hand wheels simultaneously ineffective, substantially as described.

3. In an aeroplane, front and rear inverted U-shaped frames, a shaft rotatably mounted on the front frame, a hand Wheel and pulley attached to the shaft, a second shaft on the rear frame, a hand wheel and pulley attached to the second shaft, a pulley loosely mounted on the second shaft, an endless cable passing around said loose pulley and the pulley on the first shaft, a cable around the fixed pulley on the second shaft adapted to control the warping planes of the'aeroplane, means for detachably connecting the loose pulley to said second shaft, and means to manually disengage said loose pulley from connection to said second shaft, substantially as described.

4. In an aeroplane, front and rear inverted U-shaped frames, means for pivotally mounting the same, a shaft rotatably mounted on the front frame, a pulley and hand wheel attached to said shaft, a second shaft rotatably mounted on the rear frame, a hand wheel and pulley connected to the same, a second pulley loosely mounted on said second shaft, an endless cable threaded around said loose pulley and the pulley on the front frame shaft, a cable threaded around the fixed pulley on the rear shaft adapted to control the warping planes of the aero plane, means normally connecting said loose pulley to its shaft, a horizontal shaft rotatably mounted on the rear frame, means on said shaft operatively associated with the connecting means for said loose pulley and its shaft to disconnect the loose pulley from its shaft on rotation of said horizontal shaft, and a handle on said horizontal shaft for manually effecting rotation thereof.

5. An aeroplane containing the elements in combination claimed in claim 4:, combined with a rod pivotally connected to the front frame, means detachably connecting said rod to the rear frame, connections between said horizontalv shaft and said detachable connectinglmeans forfdisconnecting the rod from the rear frameon rotation of the shaft, lifting planes, and connections between the lifting planes and rear frame for controlllng theposition of said lifting planes.

'6. In an aeroplane, front and rear hori zontal foot operable levers, a vertical rudder, 7 means connecting the rear llever with said rudder for changing position of the same on movement of the lever, a shaft rotatably mounted and connected to the front lever' between the ends thereof, an auxiliary front 7 lever connected to the shaft below the first front lever, a rear auxiliary foot lever detachably connected to and positioned below the rear foot lever, front and rear inverted U-shaped frames 'pivotally mounted on the 8 aeroplane, means normally holding the rear foot levers in engagement, and means mounted on the rear frame and manually operable to disconnect said levers, substantially as described. 8

7. In combination in an aeroplane,'front and rear inverted U-shaped frames pivotally connected to the body of the aeroplane at the lower ends of the legs of said frames, a bar connected to the front frame anddetachably 9 connected to the rear frame, a wheel rotatably mounted on each frame, means detachably connecting the wheels, front and rear foot operated levers mounted on the aeroplane, means detachably connecting the 9 same, a device movably mounted on the rear frame, and operative connections between said device and the several means detachably connecting the frames, wheels and levers for actuating said means to disconnect 1 said parts simultaneously on movement of said device, substantially as described.

8. In combination, a pair of hand operated control levers, one for each operator, means operated thereby for controlling the 1 movements of the aeroplane, a pair of foot levers, one for each operator, and a detachablesupplemental foot lever for controlling the rudder, said hand levers having a pivstantially as described.

otal mounting at their lower ends, a supple- In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BERTRAND F. KENYON. 

